The trading Protocol protects the Good Friday Agreement, agreed in 1998, to ensure peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland after the Troubles. US President Joe Biden and his administration officials are monitoring the political situation in Northern Ireland closely over the Post-Brexit trading arrangements.

       The US President, who is proud of his Irish heritage, has explicitly expressed US support for the Protocol and wants a practical solution agreed.

       But Brexit minister Lord Frost outlined a strategy that seeks to eliminate most checks on goods travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a move which could inflame tensions between London and Brussels.

       A White House source said: “We are very much aware that there have been challenges over its [the Protocol's] implementation.

       “This is something that the UK and the EU need to resolve.

       “We believe the most effective way forward is a pragmatic one that provides political stability and economic prosperity for all of the people in Northern Ireland.

       “President Biden is certainly interested in having strong relations with both the UK and the EU and we hope that they’re able to find ways to work well together in the interest of the people of Northern Ireland.”

       The Protocol was negotiated as part of Britain's divorce from Brussels to avoid a hard border with Ireland, by effectively keeping Northern Ireland in the EU's single market for goods.

       But the introduction of checks on goods crossing the Irish Sea has angered Unionists, who have protested against it in recent months, arguing the Brexit terms have weakened Northern Ireland's links with the rest of the UK.

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       2pm update: Aussie-UK trade deal poses "huge opportunities" for Scotland, says Truss

       Scotland will see "huge opportunities" as a result of the UK's trade deal with Australia, a leading member of Boris Johnson's Cabinet said as she dismissed calls from Nicola Sturgeon for the agreement to be put to a vote at Westminster and Holyrood.

       UK Trade Secretary Liz Truss said the deal - announced last month by the Prime Minister - will benefit a host of industries north of the border, as she stressed there will be "proper parliamentary scrutiny" of it.

       Scottish First Minister Ms Sturgeon has repeatedly raised concerns about the impact of the new agreement, claiming it risks cheaper imports from Australia undermining Scottish farmers and food producers.

       1pm update: Frost announces new strategy on Northern Ireland Protocol

       Brexit minister Lord Frost said the UK is seeking a "standstill period" where existing grace periods on Northern Ireland are maintained.

       He told peers: "At the same time (as discussions) we must provide certainty and stability for businesses as we do so.

       "So we believe that we and the EU should also quickly agree a standstill period, as it were, including maintaining the operation of grace periods in force and a freeze on existing legal actions and processes.

       "This is to ensure there is room to negotiate and provide a genuine signal of good intent to find ways forward."

       12pm update: Boris Johnson says "practical steps can be taken" on Protocol

       Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there were practical steps the United Kingdom could take to sort out the issues with the Northern Ireland protocol of the Brexit deal.

       Mr Johnson added in the Commons today: "As we'll be setting out today, we want to sort out the issues in the protocol. We think there are practical steps we can do to do that."

       11am update: Cummings says Vote Leave ￡350M slogan "drove Remainers crazy"

       The Brexit campaign promise to give the NHS an extra ￡350 million per week if the UK left the European Union "drove everyone crazy" because it was true, according to Dominic Cummings.

       The former Vote Leave mastermind admitted the figure, which was emblazoned on campaign buses used by key Brexiteers such as Boris Johnson, was used as a "trap" for the Remain side as it exposed the "true balance sheet" of EU membership.

       Critics have argued the figure was misleading as it did not take into account the rebate the UK received from Brussels.

       But in an interview with the BBC, Mr Cummings said: "The reason why that figure worked and the reason why it drove everyone crazy and the reason why people are still talking about it now is that we were using true figures."

       10:15am update: "Sustainable way forward" needed on Protocol, say Labour

       Shadow Cabinet Office minister Baroness Chapman of Darlington said a "sustainable way forward" was urgently needed to resolve the issues around the Northern Ireland Protocol.

       Speaking ahead of the debate, he said: "The Prime Minister negotiated this deal just months ago and yet today communities and businesses in Northern Ireland are being subjected to another round of brinkmanship."

       "The Government and the EU must urgently find a sustainable way forward to reassure everyone affected by this political stalemate."

       9:30am update: Northern Ireland First Minister holds talks with Lord Frost

       Northern Ireland First Minister Paul Givan spoke to Lord Frost and Secretary of State Brandon Lewis about the plans ahead of their statements in Parliament.

       He added: "Evidence is clear the Protocol has failed and is damaging the economy of Northern Ireland, destabilising societal cohesion and lacks democratic accountability."

       8:45am update: EU developing contingency plans if UK fails to engage over NI Protocol

       The EU is preparing plans if the UK fails to cooperatively engage with Brussels on resolving the Northern Ireland protocol.

       It comes as Lord Frost is preparing to outline proposals to Parliament for solving the "serious challenges" caused by the post-Brexit trading arrangements.

       The Express understands the EU’s contingency plan would be a “strict no messing around” policy on dealing with the Protocol.

       8am update: M&S warns of product shortages at Christmas due to NI Protocol

       Marks & Spencer's chairman warned some products will be excluded from Northern Ireland's shelves this Christmas due to problems with the post-Brexit agreement on the region.

       Archie Norman, who has requested a meeting with Brexit minister Lord Frost, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the Northern Ireland Protocol will cause "gaps on the shelves".

       "This Christmas, I can tell you already, we're having to make decisions to delist product for Northern Ireland because it's simply not worth the risk of trying to get it through," the former Tory MP said.